Cleaning means and more particularly cleaning of hypodermic needles of syringes



K. BROGE 3, CLEANING MEANS AND MORE PARTICULARLY CLEANING June 4, 1963OF HYPODERMIC NEEDLES OF SYRINGES Filed May 18, 1961 mv l l C UnitedStates Patent CLEANING MEANS AND MORE PARTICULARLY CLEANING 0FHYPODERMIC NEEDLES 0F SYRINGES Kurt Brtige, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany,assignor to Firma Rud. A. Hartmann Gross-Apparate und SpezialmaschinenG.m.b.H. & C0., Berlin-Rudow, Germany Filed May 18, 1961, Ser. No.111,094 Claims priority, application Germany June 3, 1960 Claims. (Cl.13458) This invention relates to cleaning means 'and more particularlyto means for the cleaning of hypodermic needles of syringes.

In order to shorten the time-consuming manual work involved in thecleaning of syringes and the accessories thereof, it has already beenproposed to use a centrifugal Washing machine. The application of thecentrifugal efiect is, however, not sufficient for effectively cleaningthe hypodermic needles.

According to the present invention, it is proposed to clean thegenerally very thin needles *ofiering the grea est resistance to aneffective cleaning, by means of an apparatus permitting the action ofthe cleaning fluid under high pressure, namely, 10 to 20 atmospheres persquare centimeter on the hypodermic needles, and after completion of thewet cleaning cycle, drying the needles by the application of pressurizedair.

It is of particular importance that after charging the apparatus withthe hypodermic needles to be cleaned, the cleaning cycle comprisingseveral working steps, including the drying to be effectedautomatically, while the individual washing processes in respect totheir sequence and time period are effected completely automatically bythe apparatus within the periods determined as sufiicient by the resultsof experiments.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing adistributor head having several nozzles connected with an admissionconduit for the cleaning medium, the head being pivotally connected withthe apparatus frame so that during its pivotal movement, the same isadjustable in three positions respecting the holder carrying thehypodermic needles in such 'a manner that in the charging position, thenozzles of the distributor head are at such a distance from the bearingsurface of the needle holder, that the insertion of and the removal fromthe apparatus of the holder is possible Without hindrance, while in itscentral position, the nozzles which can be pivoted downward togetherwith the head to rest a short distance from the upper rims of the headsof the needles, and in the third or cleaning position only do thenozzles solidly rest on the rims of their respective needle heads.

The needle holder is defined 'by a plate provided with borings orapertures for the accommodation of the needles, the diameter of theboring being slightly less than the greatest outer diameter of theneedle head, there being provided at the lower side of the plate, tubesaligned with the borings, the interior diameter of which is equal to thediameter of the borings in the plate, while the length of the tubes isgreater than the actual needle part of the hypodermic needle. The tubesare closed at their lower ends and are provided with openings in theupper part of their casing, from which openings the cleaning medium mayoverflow.

For effecting the above intermittent movement of the distributor head aswell as the control and supervision of the admittance of the differentcleaning agents, such as washing fluid, distilled water, fresh water,the timely admittance of the pressurized air for the drying of thewashed hypodermic needles, there is provided a control means consistingof a control sha'dit carrying the control supervision means with suchcontrol shaft being driven 3,092,121 Patented June 4, 1963 2 through aspeed control gear by an electnounotor. The shaft is provided with a camdisc for effecting the intermittently effected pivotal movement of thedistributor head, a control rotational slide plate for the admission andexit of the different cleaning fluids, and the dry air, and a drumswitch in the circuit of an electromoto-r driving a pump for obtainingthe required high working pres sure of the cleaning medium and the dryair.

A liquid-tight bearing of the nozzles against the upper rim of thehypodermic needles inserted into the needle holder during the last stageof the rinsing process is effected by the provision in the control meansbetween the cam disc and the distributor head of a spring compensa tionmeans resulting in an elastic hut tight bearing connection between thenozzles and the respective needle heads.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cleaning apparatusincluding the complete control means and driving motor therefor and thepressure pump are arranged in a locker-type housing in which is arrangeddirectly below the cleaning apparatus a receptacle having a drain forthe spent cleaning medium. An opening in the locker wall for chargingthe apparatus can be closed by means of a transparent door or a doorhaving sight openings therein.

Dependent on the number of the present needle cleaning apparatussimultaneously used, the different cleaning media can be introducedthrough different conduits into the respective connections in the Wallsof the locker, or each locker, per se, and this arrangement isrecommended for the Working with only one or 'a few of the cleaningapparatus in separate rooms, provided with storage containers for theindividual cleaning media, which containers are suitably arranged in thelocker in such a manner that the media are under the control of therotational valve to the pressure pump.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description in connection with the annexeddrawings, and in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows in side elevation and partly in section, the cleaningapparatus in charging position, with one side wall removed,

FIGURE 2 is a iiragmental view showing the nozzles and the needle headsin the cleaning apparatus ready for operation during the cleaning of theneedle heads,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the cleaning of thehypodermic needles, and,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale of the cleaningapparatus installed in a locker including the control means for theactuation and supervision of the different working steps.

Referring to the drawings, and more especially to FIG. 1', there isshown a supporting means 16 of substantially U-shape and a hollow shaftor tube 5 serving as a conduit for the cleaning medium and also thepressurized air is rotatably mounted in legs 16 of the supporting means16. A distributing head 4 is carried by the shaft 5 and the lower faceof the head is provided with a plurality of nozzles 3. Conduits orpassages 5a in the head '4 provide communication between each nozzle 3and the interior of the shaft 5. One end of the shaft 5 is closed bysuitable means, whereas the other end is equipped with a packing boxallowing the shaft to be connected to a conduit in communication with asource of cleaning medium.

Each leg 16' of the supporting means 16 is provided with downwardlyinclined slots or recesses which extend from the front edge of each legtoward the rear edge with such slots being defined by upper and lowersurfaces 16a and 16b, respectively. A bracket 16c on each leg 3 has itsupper edge flush with the lower surface 16b, and in conjunction withsuch surface, provides a support for a needle holder 2. The needleholder may be easily and readily introduced into the supporting means 16from the front side thereof.

The holder 2 includes upper and lower plates 2a and 2e, respectively,joined by tubes 2b. The upper plate 2a is formed with a series ofthrough apertures of equal dimensions, there being a tube 2b for eachaperture. The lower plate 2e is imperforate and serves as a bottom forthe tubes, which tubes carry the needles to be cleaned.

The number of apertures 2c and tubes 2b corresponds to the number ofneedles to be cleaned simultaneously, and of course is dependent on thesize of the apparatus. The diameter of each plate aperture 20 isslightly less than that of the needle head, so that the head restssecurely on the upper rim of the aperture 20. Also, each tube 2b has agreater length dimension than the length dimension of the needle, andthe lower plate 2e bears against a bevelled face of stop means S on thesupporting means 16. The stop means in conjunction with the lowersurface 16]) determines the inclined position, and secures adjustment ofthe holder 2 relative to the nozzles 3 when the head 4 is pivoted orswung downwardly into the cleaning position.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that a lever arm 5b is suitably connected tothe hollow shaft 5, and an elongated lever means 8a is pivoted to thefree end of the arm 5b. The opposite end of the lever means 811 isprovided with a driving connection with a cam disc 8 mounted on acontrol shaft 6 which is driven by a motor 9 at a uniform speed througha reducing gear means of conventional type. A spring compensating means811 is operably connected with the lever means 8a.

Also mounted on the control shaft 6 is a rotary slide 7 consisting offixed and rotatable plates with the plates being provided with ports.The slide controls the passage of different cleaning media and air intothe head 4. As shown, the drum switch 12a is in the form of a rotaryswitch having contact segments insulated from one another and contactedby brushes. One of the brushes a is connected by lead to one side of asource of power, the brushes b and 0 being respectively connected to thepump motor 12 and the cycling motor 9. The other side of the powersource is connected by lead 26 directly to the motors through a manuallyoperated switch S.

A drum switch 12a on the shaft 6 serves to control the circuit to anelectro-motor adapted to drive a pressure pump 12. It is to beunderstood that limit switches are provided for the two motors and suchswitches function to break the motor circuits when the operating cycleis completed. Conduits 18, 19 and 20 extend from the rotary slidethrough the housing 15 to vessels 21, 22 and 23 respectively, supportedon an extension 15a of the housing. These vessels contain the desiredliquid cleaning media which flow to the valve by gravity. These mediaare maintained in heated condition by means of thermostaticallycontrolled heaters which are conventional in the art anddiagrammatically shown on the drawing. A conduit 24 extending from therotary slide is connected to heating coils for the drying air which isto be used for drying the tubules following the liquid cleaning cycle.

The cleaning apparatus is arranged in a locker type housing 15 (FIG. 4)provided with an access door 17, and a receptacle 13 is located beneaththe apparatus for collecting any cleaning media which may inadvertentlyescape during operation. Thus, the control means are protected from suchliquids and a drain 13 is connected to the receptacle.

The access door 17 can be pivoted for upward swinging movement as shownin FIG. 4 or the door can be in the front wall of the housing. In thislatter situation, the charging or inserting of the holder into the appa-'41. ratus can be effected in a horizontal direction which, in the caseof small persons, enables the charging to be more easily achieved. Thedoor can be formed entirely of a transparent plastic, or it can be ofthe type having a window or windows therein.

In the event only a single or a relatively small number of the needlecleaning units are to be used, and this is particularly true when suchunits are arranged at different locations, it is believed more feasibleto provide at each housing an individual container for the differentmedia, rather than the utilization of a central supply, with suchindividual media flowing by gravity to the valve and pump means operatedby the control means.

In all types of assemblies, the conduit means for the cleaning media andthe air may have associated therewith electrical heating meansautomatically controlled in their heat transmission by thermostats ofsuitable type.

In the changing or inserting position shown in FIG- URE 1, the head 4with the nozzles 3 is swung to the uppermost position to allow theholder 2 filled with needles to be readily inserted into the inclinedslots of the supporting means 16. With the head and nozzles in the sameposition, the holder can be removed from the supporting means followingthe completion of the cleaning and drying cycles.

Following the insertion of the holder into the supporting means 16, thehead 4 is swung clockwise until it assumes the position shown in FIGURE2. In other words, the nozzles are spaced a short distance from the rimof each needle head so that in such position the heads may be rinsed.Following completion of this step, the head is swung further in theclockwise direction so that the nozzles seat firmly on the rims of theneedle head and the cleaning medium forced under high pressure(approximately 10 atmospheres) into the bores of the needles. Aftersufiicient cleaning medium has been introduced into the needles to fillthe same, the medium passes upwardly in the space between the needlesand the interior of the tubes 2b, and leaves the holder below the upperplate 2a.

Following this last cleaning cycle, the distilled water is passedthrough the needles, and the drying is accomplished by pressurized air.These latter steps are effected While the nozzles 3 firmly seat on therims of the heads, and when the needles are dried, and the flow ofcleaning media and air is arrested, the head 4 is swung in thecounterclockwise direction, so that it assumes the position shown inFIGURE 1, whereupon the holder 2 with the cleaned needles can be removedfrom the supporting means 16. A new holder can then be inserted, and theforegoing steps repeated.

It is believed apparent from the above description that by virtue of thepresent invention, it is a simple and easy matter to clean the needles,since the operator is only required to exchange the needle holders,since the various steps of the cleaning process are actuated by thecontrol means of the apparatus. The duration of the individual cleaningand drying steps is determined on the particular situations involvedsuch as use of novel solvents, residues of medicines remaining in theneedles, and which may make cleaning particularly difiicult, as well asother problems which may arise. These latter conditions usually arise inconnection with special operational situations which can be effected byslowing down the duration of one rotation of the disc plate, and thedrum 7 by the employment of a different reducing gear between the motor9 and the shaft 6 and/or the length of the cam, and the contact strip onthe outer periphery of the drum 7 can be altered.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, itis to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration andexample only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

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I claim:

1. An apparatus for the cleaning of hypodermic needles includingsupporting means, a distributing head having a plurality of nozzles,said supporting means being provided with slot means therein, a holderinsertable into the slot means, and adapted to carry the needles to becleaned, means for supplying cleaning medium and drying air medium tosaid head and nozzles, means pivotally mounting said distributing headto said supporting means for movement to three positions relative tosaid holder, first control means cooperating with said head tosequentially locate it at the three respective positions, namely, acharging position in which the head is a sufiicient distance from saidslot means to allow the insertion in and removal from the slot means ofsaid holder, a central position in which the nozzles are located a shortdistance above the rims of the needle heads to permit the cleaningmedium to clean the needle heads and a third position in which the nozzls are pressed on the rims of the needles for introducing the cleaningmedium and drying air sequentially into the needles, and second controlmeans cooperative with said first control means and in timed relationtherewith for operating the medium supplying means for supplying atleast one of the mediums at each of the central and third positions ofthe head.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said holder includes atube having a closed bottom for each nozzle with each tube receiving aneedle, each tube being of greater length than the needle and having aninner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the needle so that thecleaning medium flowing through the needle and present in the spacebetween the eedle and the tube cleans the exterior of the needle.

3. An apparatus for the cleaning of hypodermic needles includingsupporting means, a distributing head having a plurality of nozzles,said supporting means being provided with slot means therein, a holderinsertable into the slot means and adapted to carry the needles to becleaned, means for supplying a cleaning medium and drying air to saidhead and nozzles, means pivotally mounting said distributing head tosaid supporting means for movement to three positions relative to saidholder, namely, a charging position in which the head is a sufficientdistance from said slot means to allow the insertion in and removal fromthe slot means of said holder, at central position in which the nozzlesare located a short distance above the rims of the needle heads topermit the cleaning medium to clean the needle heads and a thirdposition in which the nozzles are pressed on the rims of the needles forintroducing the cleaning medium and drying air sequentially into theneedles, said holder including a tube for each nozzle with each tubereceiving a needle, each tube being of greater length than the needleand having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of theneedle so that the cleaning medium present in the space between theneedle and the tube cleans the exterior of the needle, the holderincluding upper and lower plates with the tubes extending between theplates and the upper plate being supported by the lower wall of the slotmeans, said upper plates having apertures therein registering with saidtubes for allowing the needles to be introduced into the tubes, and thediameter of the apertures being slightly less than the largest diameterof the needle heads to space such head above the upper plate.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including electro-motorsfor respectively operating said first and second control means.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said first controlmeans includes a control shaft, a speed reducing gear coupling a firstelectromotor to the control shaft, a cam on the shaft for efiectingpivotal movement of the distributing head to said positions, said secondmeans including a rotary valve on the shaft for the control of thecleaning medium and the drying air, a switch drum driven by the shaft, asecond electro-motor, a pump driven by the second electro-motor for thegeneration of the required high pressure of the cleaning medium anddrying air, a source of power, and a circuit controlled by the switchdrum fior sequentially energizing the first and second electromotors.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including linkage meansconnecting the cam to the distributing head and a spring meansassociated with said linkage means for biasing said linkage toward thecam.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the cleaning apparatusand power driven control means are arranged in a housing, a receptaclehaving a drain for the spent cleaning medium being located below thecleaning apparatus, said housing having a charging opening therein forpermitting insertion of and removal of the holder from the drum, and adoor closing said charging opening.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the wall of the housingis provided with connections for the supplying means for the cleaningmedium and drying air.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the housing is providedwith containers for different cleaning media and from which the cleaningmedia flow by gravity to the rotary valve.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the supplying meansfor the cleaning medium for the drying air include heating means andthermostats controlling said heating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS461,698 Anderson Oct. 20, 1891 507,870 Young Oct. 31, 1893 680,836Birltholz Aug. 20, 1901 2,558,628 Redin June 26, 1951 2,626,624I-lolderith Jan. 27, 1953 2,655,160 Casady Oct. 13, 1953 2,788,008Wanzer Apr. 9, 1957

1. AN APPARATUS FOR THE CLEANING OF HYPODERMIC NEEDLES INCLUDINGSUPPORTING MEANS, A DISTRIBUTING HEAD HAVING A PLURALITY OF NOZZLES,SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH SLOT MEANS THEREIN, A HOLDERINSERTABLE INTO THE SLOT MEANS, AND ADAPTED TO CARRY THE NEEDLES TO BECLEANED, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CLEANING MEDIUM AND DRYING AIR MEDIUM TOSAID HEAD AND NOZZLES, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DISTRIBUTING HEADTO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT TO THREE POSITIONS RELATIVE TOSAID HOLDER, FIRST CONTROL MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID HEAD TOSEQUENTIALLY LOCATE IT AT THE THREE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS, NAMELY, ACHARGING POSITION IN WHICH THE HEAD IS A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE FROM SAIDSLOT MEANS TO ALLOW THE INSERTION IN AND REMOVAL FROM THE SLOT MEANS OFSAID HOLDER, A CENTRAL POSITION IN WHICH THE NOZZLES ARE LOCATED A SHORTDISTANCE ABOVE THE RIMS OF THE NEEDLE HEADS TO PERMIT THE CLEANINGMEDIUM TO CLEAN THE NEEDLE HEADS AND A THIRD POSITION IN WHICH THENOZZLES ARE PRESSED ON THE RIMS OF THE NEEDLES FOR INTRODUCING THECLEANING MEDIUM AND DRYING AIR SEQUENTIALLY INTO THE NEEDLES, AND SECONDCONTROL MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS AND IN TIMEDRELATION THEREWITH FOR OPERATING THE MEDIUM SUPPLYING MEANS FORSUPPLYING AT LEAST ONE OF THE MEDIUMS AT EACH OF THE CENTRAL AND THIRDPOSITIONS OF THE HEAD.